Subaru named its plug-in hybrid simply Hybrid, like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, which means maybe they don’t want to focus on the electrification aspect of the car. Of course, this is quite a confusing name too, as the Crosstrek Hybrid has been around for a few years now, but in conventional hybrid form, not plug-in.

There are no details at this time on battery capacity or all-electric range, but we suspect it will be similar to the Prius Prime.

“The new Crosstrek Hybrid maintains all the capability of the traditional Subaru Crosstrek with increased fuel efficiency. It can be driven as a normal Hybrid, using both gas and electric power and eliminating range anxiety, or driven on pure electric drive for local commuting.

The Crosstrek Hybrid is an advanced, eco-friendly version of the versatile compact SUV that has become the brand’s third best-selling model in America. The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid uniquely integrates the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) with Subaru’s four-cylinder direct-injection BOXER engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and an all-new transmission.

The Crosstrek Hybrid combines the wide-ranging off-road capability of the gas-powered Crosstrek with hybrid efficiency.

Arriving at Subaru retailers near the end of this year, the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid will also feature unique styling, calling out its distinct abilities. Like the gas-powered Crosstrek models, the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid is built around the Subaru Global Platform that was designed to accommodate hybrid and electric powertrains.”

As for making the CrossTrek hybrid AGAIN, the reason it didn’t sell the first time was not enough mileage benefit, maybe 10%. A high ground clearance, CrossTrek is the wrong model to do a PHEV on. Take the highest MPG version, either the more aerodynamic Legacy or Impreza, and build on that, getting either one of those to 30/40 mpg in hybrid mode with 25 miles of EV would be a car people could justify buying. Perfect for Portland, OR commutes and then weekends on the bike or in the kayak.

Of course if they can get the CrossTrek to 30/40/25EV, that would be a winner but can’t see the CrossTrek getting there.

hoping for an electric STI is wishful thinking. If it ever gets to that point, Subaru will probably just discontinue the car itself. Electric sports cars are not efficient, and considering they still use them for Rally Races, an electric STI would prove inefficient and useless.

This Crosstrek PHEV, will be the new standard for the Portland, Oregon Subaru faithful. Hopefully, it has a bit more than 20 miles AER, to give the Mitsubishi Outlader shoppers an alternative, worthy of consideration.

That’s the point. Did you expect them to take the Prius Prime hybrid system and mate it to the 3.6R motor? That would be ineffectual and, idiotic. Honda uses their 2.0 motor with only 141hp. If the Crosstrek Plug-in has anything close to what it currently has now, that is about industry standard. I think you should really do your research on why a small motor hybrid system makes sense.

20 miles of aer for Subaru is better than zero bonehead. And that range will be very acceptable to thousands that will snap these up in the next few years.
Now once the model y is out in a few years with all wheel drive and 250+ miles of range for about $45k, this phev crossover and many others like it will be far less unacceptable to many of us small suv/crossover bev enthusiasts.

Aren’t they going to lose part of the efficiency by coupling it with one of their boxer engines instead of one of the newer Toyota engines? Given Subaru’s position lower in the market I wouldn’t expect a very large, expensive battery to come with this.

Why on God’s green earth would Subaru use toyota’s engine? The boxer motor is synonymous with Subaru – it’s the only way to get efficient and symmetrical AWD. Also, if you’ve paid attention, Subaru is using Toyota’s hybrid system currently utilized in the Prius Prime.

Keep it! This 20-30 miles ranges in Plug-In Hybrids are like some bad joke!! Like some secret car producers agreement on such low ranges! Even Chinese cars can drive almost 100 miles on battery, with their Plug-in hybrids!!

For alot of people it is enough and it will substatiially reduce how much energy they consume driving compared to what they drive now.

Also, for years now PHEVs with more AER had other limitations. Early adopters do not mind overlook their shortcomings for a period. Meanwhile most of the market ignores EVs and PHEVs because they either are too small, too much money, do not have awd, are not from a brand they trust, are not a cuv or suv, or a combination of those things.

There’s no *secret* car producers agreement, the car companies have been very public about not wanting to have higher fuel efficiency standards and regulations, if they don’t want to give us better gas mileage why would they want to give us more EV range?

The Prime has around 25 miles of AER if you drive it gently, and the electric motor puts out about 91 hp, so it is a bit anemic but not horribly so. The Primes curb weight is 3375 vs. 3495 for the Crosstrek so the weight isn’t that much more. The CdA difference will meant that the Prime probably gets 10% more highway miles than the Crosstrek, though. But the newer 8.8 kWh battery is just so close to being a decent size that it is nearly tragic. Even a 10 kWh pack would get you to right around 30 miles of AER and it would allow for a similar max draw from the pack using a 100 hp motor instead of 91 hp motor. I think a 30 mile AER is a minimum for an acceptable PHEV type of vehicle, so the Prime and the Crosstrek fall short of that. 12 kWh/37 miles of AER and 120 hp would be a lot better but that would entail a larger pack volume. Not sure if you could use a 150 hp motor on a 12 kWh pack without problems with the draw rate. I think you could but Toyota chose… Read more »

The effort to undermine Toyota by misrepresenting Prime is becoming more telling as more of those driving gently report numbers close to 40. You know I have shared video showing it reaches 30 without any effort. Even the math confirms more than just 25 miles.

EV-capacity is from 83% to 12% of the 8.8 kWh battery-pack. That gives you 6.25 kWh of usable electricity. So, even with just a standard consumption-rate of 4.7 miles/kWh, you effortlessly exceed 25 miles by 4. My own personal daily drives currently deliver efficiency over 5 miles/kWh, which easily puts me above the 30-mile range.

It doesn’t matter anyway. For the plug-in presentation we had at the community-center last week, all I needed to tell people the odometer showed 268 miles since filling up and the tank still indicated full. No amount of EV-range misrepresentation can outweigh results like that.

let’s be honest here – who has ever seen a Prius driver ever drive anything but “gently”? They’re the most anemic cars on the highway to begin with, with their 45 mph on the freeway. But I get what you mean

If they are going to call ‘Plugin’ as ‘Hybrid’ or rather downsizing a better technology, then they will either price the vehicle high or limit the sales.

We have seen so many instances like this where an automaker intentionally trying to sell to damage the segment. By that time, there will be so many Model-3 and other plugins which will be ready to soldier on and let the Subaru continue with their boxer engines.

It’s a perception that the general population doesn’t understand or want plugins. So just market as a hybrid that gets all electric range. It’s not wrong. People associate “hybrid” with cost savings and high efficiency. I don’t see any issue with a company calling their PHEVs simply “hybrids”. It’s right there in the “H”.

Fiat is the 1st company to call a Plugin a Hybrid and the sales of their cars has crashed.
Now they will sell the 500 for MY-2018 probably this month with a big price increase.
No news about the 500e and what will its price be. Al ready it has a high price of $32K.

They should have done this with the Outback or Forester. CrossTrek is too small for most families and their gear. Fine for empty nesters and young couples though I suppose. I want something that my wife can drive for school and errands during the week, then make 200-500 mile road trips for family vacations. 25 miles of AER would be fine for her situation, because we use my Bolt for all my commuting and regional travel.

Not considering a Mitsubishi; old architecture and poor quality. Kia Niro doesn’t count due to lack of AWD.

If this had 50 miles of EV range and cost 35k, we’d replace my wife’s Leaf and Forester combo with it. Perfect for family outdoor trips: great highway MPG, storage space, ground clearance, AWD, and 50 miles range for daily use. It would qualify for the $7,500 credit. Too bad it’s likely to have the limp noodle Prius motor and 18 miles range with small tax credit.

Where would a battery big enough to provide a not very aerodynamic vehicle 50 AER, plus an ICE, fit? You cannot just put that in the Yakima storage box on top. A battery big enough for 50 AER would reduce that storage space you mentioned and possibly eat into passenger space.

Battery placement will be critical. If the easy route of using the spare tire compartment and substituting tire goo/air compressor is taken, it could be the kiss of death for folks needing off-road capability (rural owners especially). IIRC, Subaru’s full-time AWD needs four identical sized tires in operation so a mini “donut” won’t work either.

Subaru cars used to be fun to drive. But for the last 10 years they’ve stripped out the fun and left it only in their WRX line. Their cars are all relatively low HP with slow acceleration and conservative hard plastic interiors.

And now they’re sticking the anemic Prius drive train in the Crosstrek? Le sigh.

EV motors give wonderful torque and fun driving to plugin cars. But trust Toyota and now Subaru to make them boring and no fun at all.